Ultimate Austria Christmas Market Itinerary [2025]

Welcome to my Austrian Christmas series. As you may already know, I lived in Austria (Salzburg) for 3 years, and I’ve been guiding my travel groups through Europe (many in Austria) for the past 10 years. We’ve also enjoyed a Christmas market tour with some of my clients.

And so I’ve decided to put together the ultimate Austria Christmas market itinerary for you to see the highlights, enjoy its best markets, and immerse yourself in the Austrian Christmas traditions.

Are you ready to visit the most beautiful Christmas markets in Austria?

Let’s hit the road together.

Overview: Austria Christmas Market Itinerary

Here is a quick summary of the itinerary and places you can visit with it:

DAY:	DESTINATION:
1.	Vienna
2.	Vienna
3.	Vienna – Gmunden – St. Wolfgang
4.	St. Wolfgang – Salzburg
5.	Salzburg
6.	Salzburg – Innsbruck – Aqua Dome
7.	Decide Where To Next

How To Get Around The Austrian Christmas Markets

I’ve decided to create this itinerary as a road trip because it’s much easier to reach the hidden gems and smallest towns by car. You’ll have a lot of flexibility, can stop anywhere, and make smaller stops on the way.

So I highly recommend renting a car in Vienna on day 3 of your trip and dropping it off wherever you decide to finish – either Innsbruck, or elsewhere like Zurich (Switzerland), Munich (Germany).

I suggest renting a car via Discovercars – they offer many rental companies and options—just check the ratings (usually I rent a car with a rating of 8.0 or higher). In Austria, I always like to rent with Sixt or Europcar.

Make sure to also get full coverage, which I always do, for peace of mind while driving.

Map Of The Austrian Christmas Market Itinerary

Here is a map of this itinerary to help you visualize it better. Save it to your phone, and hit the road:

DAY 1. VIENNA

Welcome to Vienna, the capital city of Austria.

It’s the perfect place to start our itinerary – there are many international flights. So fly into Vienna, and check into your hotel. Then head to the city to explore.

From the airport, catch the CAT city train to the main train station in Vienna, or take an Uber/taxi.

🏠 Where To Stay In Vienna

Here are my favorite hotels in Vienna, I recommend for your stay:

➡ Hotel Palais Mailberger Hof
➡ Steigenberger Hotel Herrenhof
➡ Hotel Imperial

Vienna’s Christmas Markets

Vienna’s markets are charming but also very crowded, as they’re quite popular. So if you don’t like such busy places, don’t worry… I’ll also take you to a few hidden gems and cozier markets on this itinerary.

The main Christmas markets in Vienna are at Rathausplatz (in front of City Hall). There are many wooden stalls with sweet and savory foods, decorations, and even an ice-skating rink. So that’s where I recommend heading at first.

You can also check out the nearby markets at Maria-Theresien-Platz (they close by 9:30 PM, so come earlier).

There are also markets at the main square – Stephansplatz – around St. Stephen’s Cathedral. But to be honest, these are not my favorite – they don’t have many food options, and it’s often too crowded. But the cathedral is often lit up at night, which adds to the vibe.

Instead, I highly suggest making your way to Schönbrunn – the summer residence of the Habsburgs – it has stunning markets and this is where it feels most Christmasy for me in Vienna.

If you like decorations and handicrafts, head to the markets at Karlsplatz.

🍭 SPECIALTIES TO TRY: Schnitzel with fries and mayo, Käsespätzle (cheese dumplings), Bratwürst with sauerkraut (sausages in a roll), roasted chestnuts, Glühwein, apple strudel, Lebkuchen (gingerbread)
📍 LOCATION: Rathausplatz (at the City Hall), Maria-Theresien-Platz, Stephansplatz (not so many food options), Schönbrunn (the most Christmasy), Karlsplatz (artsy markets)
✨ VIENNA CHRISTMAS MARKETS DATES: 14th of November until the 26th of December 2025

DAY 2. VIENNA

Today, you’ve got a full day to explore Vienna and enjoy its sights. As you may know, Vienna was the Habsburgs’ main residence, and they ruled Europe from the 13th century until the end of World War I.

So, one of the main things to visit is the Hofburg Palace (which used to be their winter residence) and see the Sisi apartments. Learn more about her fascinating life and how she was different, rebelling against the empire a bit.

Also check out Schönbrunn Palace, which was their summer residence. It’s worth going inside and exploring the rooms, but if you don’t want to, at least check out its beautiful gardens. And there are stunning Christmas markets, too.

As you’re at Schönbrunn, I highly recommend enjoying an Apple Strudel demonstration at a bakery where it was first made. You’ll see how they make it and can also try some.

Apart from these main sights, I suggest seeing the following:

📍 St. Stephen’s Cathedral
📍 Vienna State Opera
📍 Belvedere Palace – beautiful art gallery – see the famous painting ‘The Kiss’ from Gustav Klimt
📍 Albertina Museum – main art gallery
📍 MuseumsQuartier – see the Natural History Museum
📍 Karlskirche – beautiful Baroque church
📍 Hundertwasserhaus – beautiful colorful houses and area, great for relaxing and having coffeee
📍 Prater Park – amusement park full of roller coasters
Naschmarkt – Vienna’s open-air market with different foods (delicious falafel)

Vienna’s Coffee Culture & Historic Coffee Houses

I’m a huge coffee lover, and Vienna is my perfect scene to enjoy the coffee culture. It has so many beautiful historic coffee houses and confectioneries, where you can enjoy an afternoon sweet treat. Moreover, they have a special ambiance, as they were often visited by major world intellectuals such as Sigmund Freud, Vladimir Lenin, and Josef Stalin.

Definitely don’t miss out on these cafes, sit, read a newspaper, and enjoy delicious coffee/tea with a cake:

☕ Cafe Central
☕ Cafe Demel
☕ Gerstner K. u. K. Hofzuckerbäcker
☕ Conditorei Sluka

Order Melange (Austrian cappuccino), Verlängeter (Austrian Americano), or hot chocolate with whipped cream. As for the cakes, try traditional Sacher Torte (chocolate cake), Apple Strudel or Topfenstrudel (strudel with cottage cheese), Kaiserschmarrn (traditional Austrian pancake-stripe dessert – try at Cafe Demel), Esterházy Torte, Dobostorte, or Mozart Torte.

Vienna’s Classical Concert

Our visit to Vienna can’t be complete without enjoying a classical concert. As you know, Austria is home to some of the most famous classical musicians, including Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Johann Strauss, and Joseph Haydn.

And enjoying a concert in Vienna is such a special experience. So, on one of the evenings here, I highly recommend one of these concerts. Or a performance at the Opera House.

🔅 Musikverein (Golden Hall)
🔅 Karlskirche

➡ Check out this Vivaldi The Four Seasons Concert in the Golden Hall.

➡ See this Vivaldi’s Four Seasons Concert in Karlskirche.

DAY 3. VIENNA – GMUNDEN – ST. WOLFGANG

Good morning to Vienna. I hope you got the most out of your time in the capital.

It’s time to explore the Austrian countryside and check off some hidden gems with the highlights of this Christmas market itinerary.

As I mentioned before, I recommend renting a car in Vienna and turning this itinerary into a road trip, especially today, as it will be much easier to visit the places and give you much more flexibility.

In the morning, take the rental car and set off. First, drive from Vienna to Gmunden.

🚇 Drive from Vienna to Gmunden takes 2.5 hours (235 km/146 miles).

Gmunden

Gmunden is a small town on Lake Traunsee. It’s the deepest lake in Austria (191 m deep).

Gmunden was founded in the 12th century and is nowadays famous as a ceramic city – locals have perfected ceramics here, and it’s their tradition to make a variety of items.

You can stroll through the town and its shops, and visit the nearby Schloss Ort, a castle located on a small island and connected to the mainland by a wooden bridge. It’s super iconic.

The Christmas Markets in Gmunden are open only on weekends, from Friday to Sunday, starting the last weekend of November. But even if you’re here during the week, it’s still a nice stop on the way from Vienna.

🚇 Drive from Gmunden to Mondsee takes 35 minutes (50 km/31 miles).

Mondsee

Another town you can visit on the way, after Gmunden, is Mondsee. For all of you who are Sound of Music enthusiasts, this is where Maria and Captain Georg von Trapp got married in the local church, the Basilica of St. Michael.

Apart from it being an iconic Sound of Music location, it’s another beautiful town with colorful houses to walk around. It’s also famous for its Monseer cheese (semi-hard cheese) that you need to try.

As with Gmunden, the Christmas markets here are only open on the weekends, starting on the last weekend in November. But even if you miss them, it’s still nice to visit for a few hours and also enjoy the lakeside (Mondsee Lake).

We’ve now reached the Salzkammergut region of Austria, famous for its stunning lakes and mountains, with nearby glaciers. This is where we’ll spend the night.

🚇 Drive from Mondsee to St. Wolfgang takes 30 minutes (33 km/20 miles).

St. Wolfgang Im Salzkammergut

Our last stop for today is the charming town of St. Wolfgang in the region. Being here feels like it’s straight out of a fairy tale.

Legend says that in the year 976, Saint Wolfgang of Regensburg threw an axe from a mountain and declared the spot where it landed was where a church should be built. That church became a major pilgrimage site.

You can visit the church and wander around its tiny streets, enjoying the wooden houses. It’s a very peaceful place, so you can relax for a while.

I highly recommend taking the steepest funicular train up to the Schafberg mountain – you’ll get breathtaking views of the entire Salzkammergut region, including its lakes. There is also a restaurant, so you can get some traditional Austrian food (Schnitzel or Kasespätzle – cheese dumplings).

St. Wolfgang’s Christmas Markets

The Christmas markets are spread through the streets of the town. They sell a lot of decorations and local handicrafts – this is the best spot for souvenir shopping on our itinerary.

There are a few stalls with food (my favorite was the baked potato with toppings) and, of course, Glühwein.

Check out the floating ‘Peace Lantern‘ on the lake that adds to the atmosphere.

The markets are only open from Wednesday to Sunday.

🍭 SPECIALTIES TO TRY: Baked potato, Käsespätzle (cheese dumplings), local fish from the lake, Bratwürst with sauerkraut (sausages in a roll), roasted chestnuts, Glühwein, Lebkuchen (gingerbread), Punch and Glühwein, great for local artisan products and handicrafts
📍 LOCATION: spread throughout the town’s streets
✨ ST. WOLFGANG’S CHRISTMAS MARKETS DATES: 21st of November until the 21st of December 2025 – only open from Wednesday until Sunday

🏠 Where To Stay In St. Wolfgang & Salzkammergut Region

You can either stay in town or check out some of my favorite hotels nearby. I love the hotels in this region, so I would suggest checking out the town and then heading to a more remote hotel (I recommend Rosewood Schloss Fuschl).

➡ Wolf & Schaf Apartments – in St. Wolfgang town
➡ TAUROA Landhaus zu Appesbach – in St. Wolfgang town
➡ Rosewood Schloss Fuschl – my favorite hotel in the area close to Fuschlsee lake

👉 READ ALSO: Epic Austria Itinerary: 7, 10, 14 Days In Austria

DAY 4. ST. WOLFGANG – SALZBURG

I hope you enjoyed a relaxing night away from the crowds and your Austrian hotel experience.

Today, we’ll be heading to my favorite city – Salzburg. But, before we come, we’ll explore 2 more spots on the way.

I suggest first driving from St. Wolfgang (or wherever you stayed in the area) to the nearby salt mines.

🚇 Drive from St. Wolfgang to Salzwelten Salzburg takes 1 hour & 5 minutes (61 km/38 miles).

Salzwelten Salzburg

All right, it’s time to have some fun. Welcome to the salt mines near Salzburg. If you didn’t know, Salzburg and its area are famous for their salt mining and trade. There are multiple salt mines, and we’ll be visiting one of them.

Join a guided tour through the salt mines, learn about mining and how it was built here, and have fun sliding on two major slides underground. And a surprise – you’ll cross the border between Austria and Germany while in the mine – isn’t that crazy?

After, explore how the Celts lived and mined salt 2,500+ years ago in the local Celtic village.

➡ Book tickets to the Salzwelten salt mines near Salzburg here.

🚇 Drive from Salzwelten Salzburg to Hellbrunn Palace takes 20 minutes (13 km/8 miles).

Hellbrunner Christmas Markets

Another stop I highly recommend before Salzburg is the iconic Hellbrunner Adventzauber – Christmas markets at Hellbrunn Palace.

The palace was built in the 17th century by a local Archbishop Markus Sittikus. He was a funny guy and installed several fun things around the palace, including the famous Trick Fountains (Wasserspiele). You can see the show only in the summer.

Now, in winter, it hosts beautiful Christmas markets featuring several artisan stalls and local decorations. It’s another great stop for Christmas souvenir shopping.

There are also some food stalls, but I’d wait for Salzburg as it has more food options.

NOTE: You’ll need to pay an entrance fee of 7 EUR to enter this market.

🍭 SPECIALTIES TO TRY: Käsespätzle (cheese dumplings), Kaiserschmarrn, Bratwürst with sauerkraut (sausages in a roll), roasted chestnuts, Glühwein, Lebkuchen (gingerbread), Punch and Glühwein, great for local artisan products and handicrafts
📍 LOCATION: spread around the palace
✨ ST. WOLFGANG’S CHRISTMAS MARKETS DATES: 20th of November until the 24th of December 2025 – closed on Mondays

Salzburg

Whenever you’re ready, head to Salzburg. We’ll stay here for the next 2 nights, so you’ve got the entire day to enjoy the Salzkammergut region with the salt mines and Hellbrunn Palace.

🚇 Drive from Hellbrunn Palace to Salzburg takes 15 minutes (5 km/3 miles).

Take some time to check into your hotel and relax. Tomorrow, you’ll have the entire time to explore the city. So, for now, take it easy and head to Old Town to enjoy its Christmas markets.

🏠 Where To Stay In Salzburg

These are my favorite hotels I suggest in Salzburg for your stay:

➡ Boutique Hotel Am Dom
➡ Small Luxury Hotel Goldgasse
➡ Hotel Sacher

Salzburg’s Christmas Markets

Salzburg has my favorite Christmas markets, seriously. There is just something so magical with the lights, the surrounding buildings, and the entire vibe – there is just nothing quite like it.

The main markets are at the Residenzplatz in the Old Town, next to the main cathedral.

NOTE: If you’re flexible, I recommend planning your visit to stay in Salzburg on 6th December – you can experience a unique Austrian tradition called Krampus. It’s totally insane, but you need to be there, lol!

🍭 SPECIALTIES TO TRY: Brezel (Big Pretzel – sweet or sauer), fried dough with sauerkraut called ‘Kiachl’, Bratwürst, Kaiserschmarrn (traditional shredded pancakes), Mulled Wine, Hot Chocolate
📍 LOCATION: Residence Square & In Front Of The Mirabell Palace
✨ SALZBURG CHRISTMAS MARKETS DATES: 20th of November 2025 and finish on the 1st of January 2026

DAY 5. SALZBURG

It’s time to explore this wonderful city today and get the most out of your time.

As I mentioned before, Salzburg is like my 2nd home as I spent 3 years living here during my University studies. And I absolutely loved it.

So I’ve designed this 3-day Salzburg itinerary for you that includes all the sights I recommend. It’s like a self-guided walking tour you can follow at your own pace. So check it out and enjoy.

As a summary, here are the main sights I suggest you see:

📍 Fortress Hohensalzburg
📍 Mönchsberg Hill & Medieval Walls
📍 Sky Space & Mönchsberg Lift
📍 Salzburger Festspielhaus
📍 Salzburg Cathedral
📍 Goldgasse
📍 Fürst Confectionery – try the famous Mozart Pralines
📍 Mozart’s Birthplace
📍 Mirabell Garden

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DAY 6. SALZBURG – INNSBRUCK

Let’s move to our last destination today – an Austrian town set directly at the foot of the Alps. I hope you had a great time in Salzburg and loved the city as much as I do.

In the morning, drive to Innsbruck.

NOTE: If you want, you can make a stop at the Swarovski Crystal Worlds on the way. Visit the original shop and learn how they make their jewelry here.

🚇 Drive from Salzburg to Innsbruck takes approx. 2 hours (189 km/117 miles).

Innsbruck

The name Innsbruck perfectly describes its location: ‘Inn’ is the river that flows through the city, and ‘Brücke’ is the German word for ‘bridge’. So it’s a bridge over the River Inn.

You’re now literally surrounded by the majestic Alps. The town is rather small, full of colorful houses.

Head to the main square to see the main landmark Goldenes Dachl (‘Golden Roof’) is adorned with 2,657 gilded copper tiles. It was built by an emperor to show how powerful the Habsburgs were back in the day.

You can also take a cable car to one of the highest mountains here – Nordkette – and enjoy the stunning views.

Here are the sights I recommend you see:

📍 Old Town & Goldenes Dachl
📍 Hofkirche (Court Church) and its Black Men inside
📍 Walk alongside the river with its colorful houses
📍 Nordkette mountain

Innsbruck’s Christmas Markets

The main spots for the markets in Innsbruck are in the Old Town around the Golden Roof, the main shopping street ‘Maria‑Theresien‑Strasse‘, and Marktplatz by the river. All of them are very charming, so head to the city to enjoy some local delicacies:

🍭 SPECIALTIES TO TRY: Brezel (Big Pretzel – sweet or sauer), fried dough with sauerkraut called ‘Kiachl’, Bratwürst, Roasted chestnuts, Käseknödel, Kaiserschmarrn (traditional shredded pancakes), Mulled Wine, Hot Chocolate
📍 LOCATION: Old Town at the Golden Roof, Maria‑Theresien‑Strasse’, and Marktplatz
✨ SALZBURG CHRISTMAS MARKETS DATES: 15th of November 2025 and finish on the 6th of January 2026

🏠 Where To Stay In Innsbruck

I have a special surprise for you to end this Austrian Christmas market itinerary. You could stay in Innsbruck, but I recommend driving a bit farther into the Alps and staying at one of Austria’s most iconic hotels, the Aqua Dome.

It has amazing outdoor heated pools and a spa, so I thought it would be a great way to end your trip and reflect and enjoy.

So, I suggest, after you see Innsbruck, drive to Aqua Dome, and enjoy your stay there.

🚇 Drive from Innsbruck to Aqua Dome takes approx. 1 hour (70 km/43 miles).

➡ I recommend staying in Aqua Dome near Innsbruck.

DAY 7. DECIDE WHERE TO NEXT

On the last day, decide what you want to do. Maybe you want to spend an extra day at the Aqua Dome, enjoying its amazing spa and reminiscing on your Christmas market trip. Or maybe you feel like exploring more—that’s awesome; I’m always up for an adventure, too.

From here, I recommend driving to Switzerland – you can keep exploring the Swiss Christmas markets like Zurich, Basel, or Lucerne. Then you can return your rental car in Zurich or Basel and head back home.

Or continue to Germany and visit some of its most beautiful markets. You can drive from Innsbruck to Munich and explore Nuremberg, Rothenburg, and Frankfurt, and return your rental car there.

The options are endless.

I hope you enjoyed this itinerary and will be able to explore as much in Austria as you can. Let me know how you liked it.

Practical Tips For Visiting Austrian Christmas Markets

I also have some practical tips for you when visiting the Christmas markets in Austria. So check them out below and plan with me:

Have Cash With You

You definitely don’t want to miss out on a cute souvenir, a yummy treat, or even a quick bathroom stop just because you’re card-less!

It’s smart to carry a bit of cash with you. Most stalls and markets accept cards now, but a few still only take cash. And you might need some cash for the bathrooms, too. As you know, Europe isn’t the best when it comes to free toilet use.

Collecting Christmas Mugs

Did you know you can take the Christmas mugs home with you? Every time you order Glühwein or another hot drink at the markets, it”s served in a traditional mug.

Each market has its own unique design, and honestly, they’re one of my favorite things about visiting Christmas markets, lol.

There’s usually a small refundable fee (around 5 euros) on top of your drink. You can return the mug to get your money back, or just keep it as a cute souvenir. Some stalls even let you swap it later for a clean one if you want.

I’ve collected mugs from every market I’ve visited, and I love watching my collection grow. They’re such a fun keepsake and make the sweetest gifts to bring home too.

Weather & Temperatures

Winter here is definitely on the chilly side, but that just adds to the magic. Make sure to pack a warm jacket, gloves, and comfy shoes for exploring the Christmas markets. You might see a bit of rain, but honestly, it never spoils the festive vibe.

Temperatures usually sit between 5°C (41°F) and 0°C (32°F), though some days can warm up a little to 8–10°C (46–50°F). Evenings do get cold again.

BONUS: European Christmas Market Itinerary

Are you dreaming of hopping between Europe’s most magical Christmas markets – all in a single trip? I’ve got just the thing!

My European Christmas market itinerary guides you through 5 countries, exploring the coziest, most charming markets in Hungary, the Czech Republic, Austria, Germany, and Belgium.

Click on the image below to check out the full itinerary and make this holiday season truly unforgettable!

WRAP-UP: Austria Christmas Market Itinerary

This is my perfect Austria Christmas market itinerary for you. I’ve been to all of these places on my own during Christmas time, and I’ve also guided a few groups through the markets. And we had such a magical time together. So I hope you’ll have a similar experience with this itinerary. Or join one of my upcoming group tours – I’ll be happy to have you there and show you the most beautiful parts of Europe.

If you like this itinerary and want a customized travel itinerary based on your preferences, contact me at info(at)voicesoftravel.com. I’ll gladly help you plan.

Happy Christmas Travels!